Checked Out: Week 12

This is definitely a transition week when it comes to my reading material. I was given several suggestions from friends, from acquaintances, from visitors to my blog, and from my wife. It’s always fun to head to the library with ideas in mind, then to find the books actually on the shelves ready for me to check out, it’s magic. Add to it the two books I’m reading for book club / discussion group, and it’s looking like a good reading month. But, I have to say goodbye to a few as well. Here are the books I’ve Checked In:

The Spymistress, by Jennifer Chiaverini. I just never really got into the flow of the book. Initially it was written through letters, and I couldn’t get into them, so I stopped reading after the first chapter. I may check it out again sometime in the future when I’m in the mood for that sort of “period piece,” but it won’t be now.

Missing You, by Harlan Coben. I’ll be posting a review to Goodreads for this book, which was good, but a bit predictable considering the previous 3 books I’ve read from him. I have a feeling he wrote this one a little too quickly after Six Years, which led to a bit of a plot similarity. But I still enjoyed it, and read it quickly.

I took a trip to Utica Public Library today in order to pick up the second book in the Divergent series, but it wasn’t in so I put in a hold for it. I did, however, find a book I needed for my book club, and two books had come in for me that I requested last week. Those two books were surprises, too, because I kind of forgot that I had even requested them, making it a Christmas atmosphere for me today. The two books that were in for me are ones I’ve heard very good things about, so hopefully they don’t disappoint. Here are the books I have Checked Out this week:

Little Bee, by Chris Cleave. I bought this book for my sister when it was first released, and I even read the first few pages before I bought it to make sure it was worth it. It had gotten positive press, but you know how those things go. Later on I checked it out of the library intent on reading it, but it had to be sent back without being read due to having so many other must-reads out at the same time. But now I made it our book club’s selection for April so I picked it up today from the library, and I’ve already started it again.

The Wise Man’s Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss. This is from an author who comes highly recommended by one of my blog readers who is a fellow fan of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. I realized after picking it up from the library that it is the second book in the series but I’m going to give it a try anyway while I order the first book to pick up.

U2 By U2, by U2 with Neil McCormick. This book gets better and better the further I get. It follows the growth of the band from before inception to the present day, through the eyes of all four band members, plus their manager, Paul McGuinness. I am currently into the chapter dealing with the release of War and its aftermath (War is U2’s third album). I’m past page 100 and motoring right along. The pictures are outstanding.

The Almost Moon, by Alice Sebold. The novel starts off with the protagonist killing her mother (don’t worry. It’s not a spoiler), and it goes with a fast pace from there. I’ve actually read it before, when it was first released, but I picked it up from the free rack in the library a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve forgotten bits and pieces, so I’m reading it again. I’m going with the idea that fate put it on that free rack for me.

Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison. This is another book I need to get to in short order because the discussion group meets to talk about this one in three weeks. It is sitting on the shelf taunting me. It is another book I’ve read before and forgotten pieces of, so I’m hoping it starts ringing bells when I begin it again.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. This one was another suggested read, so I’m giving it a chance. It is one of the books that came in for me unexpectedly at the library today so I’m going to start it soon as well, probably after I finish the next one on this list.

The Impossible Knife of Memory, by Laurie Halse Anderson. I’m really picking up steam on this one, and will probably finish it by the end of the week. Halse Anderson really does have her finger on the pulse of the teenager, and it’s uncanny to read the dialogue in this book. It also reads quickly, so I’m moving quickly towards the end, and towards Miss Peregrine’s in the process.

Wow, that’s a lot of books checked out, and I’ll probably be checking some in before the end of the month, or before even finishing them, but that’s the nature of being a reader. There are just too many books out there! Until next time…